Page 176 of GlitchBorn Heart

He lowers his forehead to mine, the scent of vanilla, spice, and whiskey mixing with the chill in the air. It warms me from the inside out. “I’ve already made my choice.”

“Tomorrow,” I say softly.

He nods once, eyes still on mine, like he can see into the depths of my human soul, wherever it may be buried in the code. “Tomorrow.”

We let the word float in the night air, his promise so large, I can’t fathom it. He bet his past, present, and future on it.

I have nothing to bring to the table...except me.

My eyes wander below the terrace to the street; the U21s have dispersed and are walking, carrying torches and candles, casting an eerie glow over the pavement, as the last of the neon lights begin to fade for the blackout. It’s ominous, and threatening, a catalyst for change to a society that lives and breathes on the edge of creating its own destruction.

Kael notices my thoughts are scattered, seeking escape into the clouds. I look away. “Collecting stars are we?” He turns my face to look at him, his seriousness even more succinct. “You’ll be you. No system can rewrite that. Especially not my system. I would know. I built it.” An arrogant joke that falls to pieces in the space between us.

He almost smiles, but it fades before he speaks. “If I could trade places with you, I would.”

“No,” I whisper, “you wouldn’t.” I laugh. “Life sucks without pizza.”

Kael allows himself to smile, even laugh, and for some reason the sound fills me with longing. I want more of it, more often. He’s definitely a re-code of his former self. Kael Ryudon 2.0.

“You’ve changed me, Little Taiyō.” His voice is soft and tender. “And I don’t mean just at work. I was in a dark, hollow place; you made me believe that there might be something left in this world worth wanting.”

“And now you may have to continue without me,” I add.

His brow furrows. “You’re not leaving, you’re returning.” His hand lifts, brushing a strand of hair caught in the breeze, from my face. “I told you I’d bring you home to me, and I swear I will. How many times do I have to say it for you to believe it?”

I shake my head, trying to tame the racing thoughts. “If LINK pulls me apart before you can...”

“Stop.” His finger rests on my lips, his tone sharp and sure.

I press my forehead to his chest, his heart pounding beneath my palms. “Don’t say things like that,” he whispers into the wind. “You make it sound like this is goodbye.”

He tilts my chin up until our eyes lock. I see it, feel it: fear, want, devotion. All the things he’s never allowed himself to feel. “It might be,” I say quietly.

“I don’t want our last night to be spent being afraid.” His lips find mine again, a slow and deliberate kiss, lasting a second but feeling like eternity. I won’t stop him. I can’t.

The kiss deepens, the wind rising around us, our magic pulsing in waves. When we finally break apart, breathless, his thumb lingers on my lower lip.

“Tomorrow, we’ll end this.” A quiet understanding between us.

I nod. Mentally I have nothing but trepidation. A happy ending would be nice for once in my life.

I look around searching for something to ground me. Ash and Ember are on the other end of the terrace, playfully flirting, their bodies touching as they laugh together. I take a moment to look at the three of them: Kael striking and untouchable, Ember fierce but wounded, Ash pretending he’s not terrified, and I feel something I haven’t in years.

Family? Yes. But mostly?

Hope.

The kind that makes your heart feel full.

Ash sees me looking and leads Ember over, weaving around a robo-server carrying hors d’oeuvres. He leans against the railing, scanning the street below. “So, what’s the plan, boss? Smile for the cameras and pretend you didn’t build the apocalypse?”

“Something like that,” Kael mutters.

Ember looks around cautiously, to see if she’s being listened to, drink in hand. “Father’s keeping an eye on you. I just saw him looking over here. He suspects something.”

“He suspects everything.” Kael dismisses the thought.

I turn to her, silently sharing her pain. “How do you do it? Stand next to him, knowing what he is?”